Growth playbooks
Only 12 growth systems
Growth systems are repeatable causal engines — invite loops, content SEO moats, product-led self-serve, sales-led land-and-expand, and more. Every company playbook maps onto one of these twelve. We keep the list short on purpose: mechanisms transfer; celebrity stories do not.
How to use this hub
- Pick the system that fits your constraints.
- Open the system page for the causal engine and steal-code.
- Browse companies on that system, then run a 14-day experiment.
New to growth systems? Start with startup growth, SaaS growth, or product-led growth.
System 1
Invite loop
Product work creates the next user.
Open system · then browse companies
System 2
Usage expansion
More seats and workflows from the same account.
Open system · then browse companies
System 3
Content SEO moat
Indexed pages become a compounding acquisition asset.
Open system · then browse companies
System 4
Community moat
Members create distribution and retention.
Open system · then browse companies
System 5
Marketplace supply-first
Inventory creates the reason demand shows up.
Open system · then browse companies
System 6
Marketplace demand-first
Demand pressure pulls supply into the market.
Open system · then browse companies
System 7
Sales-led land and expand
A wedge deal becomes org-wide adoption.
Open system · then browse companies
System 8
Product-led self-serve
Users activate without talking to sales.
Open system · then browse companies
System 9
Founder-led distribution
The founder is the channel until a system exists.
Open system · then browse companies
System 10
Partnership integration
Distribution rides someone else's installed base.
Open system · then browse companies
System 11
Paid acquisition engine
Paid channels buy learning and scaled demand.
Open system · then browse companies
System 12
Referral incentive loop
Rewards turn users into distributors.
Open system · then browse companies
FAQ
- What is a growth system?
- A growth system is a repeatable causal engine — like invite loops, content SEO moats, or usage expansion — not a one-off growth hack. Cofounderbase indexes twelve of them so you can pick a motion that fits your constraints.
- How many growth systems are there?
- Cofounderbase indexes twelve canonical growth systems. Every company playbook maps to one primary system so you can compare mechanisms instead of collecting random tactics.
- How do I choose a growth system?
- Match your hours, budget, and ICP with the quiz, then study 2–3 company case studies on that system. Prefer transferability over brand fame.